May 20, 2012

"They Oppose Me, Because I Follow What Is Good" (5/20)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 5, 38, 41-42.

“For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.

“But my enemies are vigorous and strong, and many are those who hate me wrongfully. And those who repay evil for good, they oppose me, because I follow what is good. Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, do not be far from me!” (Psalm 38:18-21)

As David calls to the Lord for help, he states the reason why the wicked were opposed to him – he followed what was good (Psalm 38:20). Yet right before this, he acknowledged that he had committed iniquity (Psalm 38:18). What should this teach us?
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , ,
May 19, 2012

Destroying a City Over One Man (5/19)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Samuel 19-21.

Sheba, leader of a rebellion against David, was pursued and trapped by Joab in the city of Beth-maacah. In an effort to capture this man, Joab besieged the city and his men began attacking the wall in order to topple it (2 Samuel 20:14-15). As this was happening, a wise woman came out to reason with Joab in order to spare the city.

“‘I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?’ Joab replied, ‘Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy! Such is not the case. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over, and I will depart from the city.’ And the woman said to Joab, ‘Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.’

“Then the woman wisely came to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king in Jerusalem” (2 Samuel 20:19-22).

There are some principles of justice found in this account:
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , ,
May 11, 2012

What Not to Do After Hurting Someone (5/11)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Samuel 10; 1 Chronicles 17; Psalm 20.

When the king of the Ammonites died, David sent some of his servants to Hanun, the son and successor of the deceased king, in order to comfort him and show him kindness. However, Hanun was convinced by his princes that David’s servants were there to spy out the city and overthrow it (2 Samuel 10:1-3).

“So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away. When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said, ‘Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and them return’” (2 Samuel 10:4-5).

Hanun, based on false assumptions about David’s intentions, humiliated these men. Upon realizing this, he could have admitted wrongdoing and sought to make things right. But instead, he became defensive, causing the situation to escalate.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: ,
May 3, 2012

"The Greatness of His Lovingkindness" (5/3)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 106-107.

Psalm 106 chronicles the history of the Israelites sinning against God, then being punished by Him for their sins. But in spite of their sin, God was always willing to save them when they cried out to Him.

“Nevertheless He looked upon their distress when He heard their cry; and He remembered His covenant for their sake, and relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness” (Psalm 106:44-45).

God’s grace is remarkable. Despite their chronic sin, He was still willing to deliver them.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , , ,
April 11, 2012

Why Satan Is More Successful than the Atheists

It seems that atheists have become more militant of late in trying to persuade others to join them in their non-belief of God. While some might be convinced to convert to the atheists’ faith (atheism is most certainly a faith because it is rooted in the belief, not the provable fact, that there is no God), most will reject their teaching. If the goal is to get people to forfeit their chance at salvation, Satan is far more successful than the atheists are.

Why is Satan more successful? He has a more appealing offer than the atheists have. Case in point: I recently read an article about the Atheist Agenda group at a college in Texas. The group set up a table on campus and promised to give free pornography for anyone willing to give up a Bible in exchange. The article noted that this event which started in 2008, attracting lots of attention early on, has barely been noticed this year. The reason is simple: Very few people will surrender their Bibles and embrace atheism (or at least consider it), in exchange for free pornography.

The atheists offer an either/or proposition. You can either have the Bible or you can have pornography You can either believe in God or reject God. Satan is more successful because he does not offer an either/or proposition; he offers a both/and proposition.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: Current Events Tagged With: , , , , ,
April 10, 2012

Serve God in Spite of Your Previous Sin (4/10)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Samuel 9-12.

The Israelites sinned in asking for a king because God was already their king. God granted their request, but had warned them that once the king was in place, it would be too late to undo what had been done (1 Samuel 8:18).

However, even though requesting a king was a sin with consequences that would exist for generations, the people would still be able to, and would still have the obligation to, serve the Lord.

“Then all the people said to Samuel, ‘Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, so that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil by asking for ourselves a king.’ Samuel said to the people, ‘Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart’” (1 Samuel 12:19-20).

There was no way to undo their sin. They now had to live with the consequences. But they still needed to obey the Lord from that point forward.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: ,
April 6, 2012

Safety Among Brethren? (4/6)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Judges 19-21.

We remember Sodom where homosexuality was so prevalent that the men of the city demanded that Lot’s visitors be brought out so they could rape them (Genesis 19:4-5). God destroyed the city for this sin (Genesis 19:12-13, 24-25; Jude 7).

A few hundred years later, a similar event happened in Gibeah when a Levite and his concubine visited the city (Judges 19:1-28). The men of the city surrounded the house in which they were staying and called for the man to be brought out so they could rape him. When the owner of the house refused and the concubine was sent out instead, they brutally gang raped her throughout the night. She was treated so severely that she died just before dawn from the abuse she had received.

How did this couple find themselves in such an awful and dangerous place? They actually believed it was a place of safety.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , ,